Workpiece visualization systems and methods

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a workpiece can include building a three-dimensional model of a workpiece within a visualization system stored on computing device, inputting measurement data into the visualization system corresponding to predetermined segments of the workpiece, updating the three-dimensional model based on the inputted measurement data to generate a updated three-dimensional model, and based on the inputted measurement data, manufacturing the workpiece to match the updated three-dimensional model.

1 . A method of manufacturing a workpiece, the method comprising:
 building a three-dimensional model of a workpiece within a visualization system stored on computing device;   inputting measurement data into the visualization system, the measurement data corresponding to predetermined segments of the workpiece;   updating the three-dimensional model based on the inputted measurement data to generate an updated three-dimensional model; and   based on the inputted measurement data, manufacturing the workpiece to match the updated three-dimensional model.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting instructions to a tool; and   manufacturing the workpiece, via the tool, to match the updated three-dimensional model in response to the instructions.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tool is a pipe bender. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data is transmitted to the computing device via a tape measure wirelessly connected to the computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement data is manually entered into one or more text boxes generated by the visualization system by a user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a three-dimensional model of a second workpiece parallel to a first workpiece based on the measurement data of the first workpiece; and   manufacturing the second workpiece.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 . further comprising:
 generating an alert when a total rotational value of the bends in the workpiece is above a threshold value.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the workpiece is electric metallic tube. 
     
     
         9 . A visualization system for manufacturing a workpiece, the visualization system comprising:
 a user visualization interface, the user visualization interface to generate a three-dimensional model of a workpiece in response to an input from a user;   a measurement input interface, the measurement input interface to receive measurement data corresponding to predetermined segments of the workpiece; and   an instruction interface, the instruction interface to update the three-dimensional model based on the received measurement data to generate an updated three-dimensional model based on the received measurement data, and the instruction interface to generate instructions for fabrication of the workpiece.   
     
     
         10 . The visualization system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a tool wirelessly connected to the visualization system.   
     
     
         11 . The visualization system of  claim 10 , wherein the tool receives instructions from the visualization system and manufactures the workpiece to match the updated three-dimensional model. 
     
     
         12 . The visualization system of  claim 11 , wherein the tool is an automatic pipe bender. 
     
     
         13 . The visualization system of  claim 10 , wherein the tool is a digital tape measure. 
     
     
         14 . The visualization system of  claim 13 , wherein the digital tape measure wirelessly transmits the measurement data to the visualization system. 
     
     
         15 . The visualization system of  claim 9 , wherein the workpiece is electric metallic tube. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a workpiece, the method comprising:
 designing a model of a workpiece within a visualization system stored on computing device by:
 selecting predetermined segments of the workpiece within the visualization system to build the model of the workpiece, the predetermined segments having a nominal length; 
 pairing a first connected tool to the visualization system, the first tool wirelessly transmitting measurement data corresponding to the predetermined segments of the workpiece to a measurement input interface of the visualization system; 
   updating the segments of the model based on the measurement data to generate an updated model with the segments having a length determined by the measurement input interface;   pairing a second connected tool to the visualization system, the second tool wirelessly receiving manufacturing instructions from the visualization system to manufacture the model; and   manufacturing the workpiece via the second connected tool to match the updated model.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first tool is a tape measure and the second tool is a pipe bender. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the model is one of:
 a three-dimensional model; or   a two-dimensional model.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 generating a model of a second workpiece parallel to a first workpiece based on the measurement data of the first workpiece; and   manufacturing the second workpiece.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 generating an alert when a total degree of bending in the workpiece is above a threshold value.